Andrew Briseno, a 21-year-old from Bakersfield, California, tragically lost his life on November 6, 2020, in San Diego. The incident occurred during what police described as a botched marijuana deal in the City Heights neighborhood. Briseno and his friend, Erik Sandoval, also 21, had traveled to San Diego to meet with Matatoa Samoata, 20, for a marijuana transaction. The meeting took a deadly turn when Samoata allegedly handed the victims counterfeit money and attempted to rob them. During the confrontation, Samoata opened fire, striking both Briseno and Sandoval. Briseno was critically injured and succumbed to his wounds three days later, while Sandoval survived despite suffering gunshot wounds to his head, leg, and foot.
Following the shooting, Samoata fled to a nearby home, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement. The standoff lasted approximately four hours before Samoata surrendered to the police. He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder, which were later amended to include a charge of murder following Briseno's death. The case proceeded to trial, where Samoata was convicted of murder for Briseno's death and attempted voluntary manslaughter for the injuries inflicted on Sandoval. In April 2022, Samoata was sentenced to 60 years to life in state prison.
The investigation into the incident revealed that Briseno and Sandoval had driven from Central California to San Diego specifically to meet Samoata for the marijuana deal. The exact circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear, but it was established that the victims were shot inside their car near the intersection of Rowan Street and Colonial Avenue. The tragic event highlighted the dangers associated with illegal drug transactions and underscored the severe consequences of such encounters. The case drew significant attention in the local community, with law enforcement officials urging anyone with additional information to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.
